Lenore - A poem by Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe - Lenore

Ah, broken is the golden bowl! the spirit flown forever!
Let the bell toll!- a saintly soul floats on the Stygian river;
And, Guy de Vere, hast thou no tear?- weep now or nevermore!
See! on yon drear and rigid bier low lies thy love, Lenore!
Come! let the burial rite be read- the funeral song be sung!-
An anthem for the queenliest dead that ever died so young-
A dirge for her the doubly dead in that she died so young.

"Wretches! ye loved her for her wealth and hated her for her pride,
And when she fell in feeble health, ye blessed her- that she died!
How shall the ritual, then, be read?- the requiem how be sung
By you- by yours, the evil eye,- by yours, the slanderous tongue
That did to death the innocence that died, and died so young?"

Peccavimus; but rave not thus! and let a Sabbath song
Go up to God so solemnly the dead may feel no wrong.
The sweet Lenore hath "gone before," with Hope, that flew beside,
Leaving thee wild for the dear child that should have been thy
   bride.
For her, the fair and debonair, that now so lowly lies,
The life upon her yellow hair but not within her eyes
The life still there, upon her hair- the death upon her eyes.

"Avaunt! avaunt! from fiends below, the indignant ghost is riven-
From Hell unto a high estate far up within the Heaven-
From grief and groan, to a golden throne, beside the King of
   Heaven!
Let no bell toll, then,- lest her soul, amid its hallowed mirth,
Should catch the note as it doth float up from the damned Earth!
And I!- to-night my heart is light!- no dirge will I upraise,
But waft the angel on her flight with a Paean of old days!"

Added: on October 23rd, 2008 at 8:29 PM | Viewed: 21448 times | Comments and analysis of Lenore by Edgar Allan Poe Comments (16)

Lenore - Comments and Information
Poet: Edgar Allan Poe (Edgar Allan Poe Art) Poem: Lenore Year: Published/Written in 1831 Poem of the Day: Mar 4 2004 Comment 16 of 16, added on April 29th, 2009 at 7:16 PM. Since the symbolic Raven (atop the bust of a mythical wisdom deity) now “rules” over the door, entrance and exit to the his “chamber” residence now jail, the narrator has no escape and indeed becomes the raven's shadow. The word “chamber” may call to mind the chambers of the heart, the legendary residence of emotional love. ....................................................................................... Another interpretation: The raven is Lenore. Love, longing and grief to excess brings on a nightmare. john quirindongo from United States Comment 15 of 16, added on February 18th, 2009 at 8:11 PM. The works of Edgar Allan Poe are very deep and I don't believe that he chose the name Lenore just because it rhymed with nevermore. We don't know everything about the man or his life. Could it be that Lenore was someone he was in love with from a distance? We will never know what secrets he took to the grave with him. As he was so intrigued with death did he leave us with this to ponder upon his own demise? Barbara Russo from United States Comment 14 of 16, added on October 23rd, 2008 at 8:29 PM. In responce to your breif note of the choice of Lenore, Poe did not choose Lenore because it 'rhymed' with Nevermore. It was choosen yes, for its sound, but for its vowel sounds, which is based on the Unity of Effect (in Edgar's essay about the composition of a short story). It was not chosen just because it sounded Lenore! What do you take Poe for? A simple person who chose words simply because they 'rhymed' with Nevermore. If, by chance what you were reffering to was exactly what I have just underlined, then I would suggest the use of more explanation, rather than a rushed note in the middle of the sentance. Have a great day Daniel Turner from Australia More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, Lenore, has received 16 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own. Of course you can also always discuss poems by Edgar Allan Poe with others on the American Poems poetry forum!

Poem Info
Poet: Edgar Allan Poe Poem: Lenore Year: Published/Written in 1831 Last read: Dec 4 2009, 2:45PM Poem of the Day: Mar 4 2004 Viewed 21448 times. Added on October 23rd, 2008 at 8:29 PM.

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